Shotgun shell jewelry and method therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a method of manufacturing a shotgun cartridge for use with jewelry, wherein the method includes cutting off a portion of the brass head of a shotgun cartridge with a lathe. The portion of the brass head of the cartridge has a primer extending from a back side of that portion of the brass head of the cartridge. The primer is cut from the back side of that portion with a high speed drill having a cutting blade positioned thereon. The back side of that portion is then filed to create a smooth surface that may be secured to a mounting surface of a jewelry setting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/657,311 filed on Jun. 8, 2012 which is herebyincorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to jewelry, and more particularly to amethod of manufacturing an article of jewelry with a spent shotgun shellcartridge and to the article of jewelry incorporating the spent shotgunshell cartridge.

2. Related Art

Using recycled goods to create jewelry is generally well known. Somejewelry includes bullet casings, for example, shotgun cartridges.However, utilizing an entire shotgun cartridge may result in the jewelrybeing bulky and or heavy. Accordingly, it is desired to create jewelrythat incorporates a portion of the head of the cartridge in a way thatreduces the profile of the casing to be less than the full cartridgehead. Accordingly, the casing can be cut to the desired profile width.The cartridge head includes a primer that typically extends farther thanthe desired thickness of the casing profile and must also be cut to beable to use the portion of the cartridge head in standard jewelrysettings that have a flat base.

There are a number of methods in which the cartridge head of the shotgunshell can be cut, but the primer will become dislocated from itsposition in the center of the cartridge head's base. For example, therotating action of a lathe at its standard speed and the standardcutting bit that are used to cut the cartridge casing and plasticinsert, result in a disruption of the manufacturer fitted primer andcompromises the primer's position. Previous methods for preparingshotgun shell cartridges for jewelry did not provide any mechanism forcutting through cartridge casing, plastic insert and the primer in a waythat would preserve the primer in its original position within thecartridge. Accordingly, there has remained a need for a method wherebythe end of a shotgun shell cartridge can be cut in such a way so thatthe resulting head can be mounted on a jewelry setting without having toreset or otherwise reconnect the primer to the cut head portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiment provides a method to remove a portion of thebrass head of the cartridge as well as cut through the primer, so thatresulting portion of the brass head may be mounted on settings forjewelry applications. In one embodiment, the method includes cutting aportion of the brass head of the cartridge with a lathe. The brass headof the cartridge has a primer that extends from a portion of the brasshead, therefore, the primer is cut from the back side of the brass headof the cartridge with a high speed drill having a cutting wheelpositioned thereon. The back side of the primer is then filed to createa smooth surface that may be secured to a jewelry setting, preferably abezel.

In another embodiment, a jewelry piece is provided having a setting witha flat mounting surface and a portion of the brass head of the cartridgesecured to the mounting surface of the setting, wherein the back sidethe brass head of the cartridge has been filed to a smooth surface thatrests flush on the mounting surface of the setting.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the process to prepare ashotgun shell for use in a jewelry setting.

FIG. 2A shows a cut shotgun shell casing being mounted to a jewelrysetting.

FIG. 2B shows a cut shotgun shell casing mounted in a jewelry setting.

FIG. 3 shows the steps in the method for preparing and mounting theshotgun shell cartridge with a jewelry setting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a shotguncartridge for use with jewelry. In particular, the method overcomesproblems associated with removing a base portion of the cartridge headwith a section of the primer from the cartridge in a manner that enablesthe base portion to be secured to a jewelry setting that issubstantially flat, and hides the cut end of the portion of the head.Generally, to create a smooth surface on the back side of the brass headof the cartridge that is suitable for use with a jewelry settingrequires the primer to be cut from the back side of the primer.Typically, the primer cannot be removed during the same process asremoving the portion of the brass head of the cartridge from the shotguncartridge because the primer may shift during such as process, therebycausing the primer to be compromised or separated completely, renderingthe shell unsuitable for jewelry applications where the primer needs toremain in the portion of the brass head of the cartridge.

The manufacturing method that is shown in FIG. 1 can be used with spentshotgun cartridges of any gauge (10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge,28 gauge or 410 gauge). The jewelry setting is preferably a bezelsetting that is sized to match the gauge of the cartridge that will besecured to the flat base of the setting. A spent shotgun cartridge isone that has been fired, such in a firearm, or has otherwise had theprimer struck and ignited so that the cartridge no longer contains theshot, wad or gunpowder within the hull or case, but the hollow tube ofthe hull remains intact and connected to the cartridge head which holdsthe primer. In an exemplary embodiment of the manufacturing process, theshotgun cartridge may be positioned in a lathe, for example, a minilathe, that has been modified and equipped with a diamond carbide bit orblade to give the lathe the ability to cut through a portion of thecartridge head as well as the plastic base of the hull or base wad orother filler between the outer casing of the head and the inner primer.Once the cartridge head is cut with the lathe to the primer, the head isseparated from the cartridge hull.

The chuck of the lathe may also be modified to securely hold the lip ofthe shotgun cartridge. Modifications to the chuck may also enable theshotgun cartridge to be positioned at an appropriate distance whereinthe bit can cut within millimeters from the top of the cartridge, thuscontrolling the width of the thickness of the resulting portion of thecartridge. The width of the profile of any cartridge is controlled byadjusting the compound rest crank. Once the cartridge is tightened intothe chuck, the profile width determined, the lathe is turned on. Withthe shell is tightened in place in the chuck, the diamond carbide bit iscaused to approach the side of the casing once the lathe is operation.In an exemplary embodiment, the lathe spins at a maximum of 2500rotations per minute, and the cross slide crank of the lathe iscontrolled by the lathe operator by slowly turning the crank to advancethe bit toward the portion of the brass head of the cartridge and beginthe cutting process. As the bit cuts through that portion and reachesthe primer, the lathe is stopped and the bit is backed away from thecartridge resulting in a cartridge with the primer intact.

The profile width of the cut portion of the cartridge head can beadjusted to match the setting. For example, with a bezel setting thathas a 1 mm ridge around the bezel base and a 2 mm offset of thecartridge rim is desired over the ridge, the cartridge head can be cutto approximately 3 mm for the profile width. In comparison, if a closerrim to ridge setting is desired, the profile width of the cartridge headcan be reduced. Similarly, the profile widths can be increased toprovide more clearance between the rim and ridge or to accommodate adeeper ridge to base bezel setting.

It is important to note that the lathe is preferably not utilized to cutthrough the primer because the rotating action of the lathe, coupledwith the approach of the bit may disrupt the primer and compromise theprimer's position in the center of the casings or separated completely,rendering the shell unusable for jewelry applications where the primerneeds to remain in the portion of the brass head of the cartridge.Accordingly, in the manufacturing process of the present invention, thelathe is used to cut through the casing and the inner hull or base wadbut it is preferably stopped before cutting the primer.

A high speed drill equipped with a cutting wheel is used to cut theprimer off of the portion of the brass head of the cartridge withoutcompromising the primer. The high speed drill is preferably a hand drillthat has speeds exceeding 2,500 rpm, preferably 5,000-35,000 rpm.Because the primer is a tube like piece that contains the igniter, thehigh speed drill's cutting wheel is applied around the perimeter of theprimer. The cartridge head is preferably turned as the rotating cuttingwheel cuts through the primer so that the cutting wheel cuts around theoutside of the primer although it is also possible to cut straightthrough the primer with the cutting wheel. After removing the distal endof the primer from the head portion of the cartridge, rough edges and ahollow center remain on the back side of the primer. To smooth off therough edges around the primer and to create a flat surface, the cutportion of the brass head of the cartridge is pressed against a grindingstone, such as on a bench grinder. In one embodiment, the cut portion ofthe brass head of the cartridge is applied to a medium grit grindingstone. The grinding stone removes any sharp edges remaining and makesthe surface of the back side of the cut portion of the brass head of thecartridge substantially flat and uniform. It will be appreciated thatother methods of filing the cut surface to be an even flat surface canbe used.

The cut portion is then cleaned and polished. A protective wax coatingis preferably applied to the cut portion and buffed prior to using thecut portion in any jewelry application. The cut portions of the brasshead of the cartridges may be cleaned using a lapidary tumbler to cleana large quantity of casings at one time. Crushed walnut combined with aliquid wax compound may be mixed in the tumbler during cleaning. Thewax, in conjunction with the crushed walnut or other abrasive materials,such as silicon carbide, glass beads, plastic beads or pumice, when leftin the tumbler for approximately 48 hours will clean away debris fromthe cut portion of the brass heads of the cartridges while also coatingand polishing those portions at the same time. The resulting finishresists finger prints and tarnishing. Optionally, the cut portions ofthe brass head of the cartridges may be cleaned by hand using steelwool, for example grade 000 steel wool. The steel wool is used to cleanthe profile and the top of the cut portion of the brass head of thecartridge by rubbing the surfaces. A jewelry cloth is then used to buffthe top of the brass head and to give it luster. Wax is then applied tothe cartridge head surfaces. The wax is a museum quality wax that formsa micro-crystalline finish to resist finger prints and keeps brasscartridges from tarnishing.

The end result of the method described herein is a portion of the brasshead of the shotgun cartridge having a substantially flat and smoothsurface on the back side that may positioned on a relatively flat basesetting for the jewelry piece. The cut head portions may be secured tothe jewelry setting using any industrial adhesive or any other glue orepoxy as shown in FIG. 2A. It would be difficult to solder the cartridgeheads to the base setting because of the plastic filler inside the brasshead of the cartridge although it may be possible to solder around thesides. In one embodiment, the primers are mounted to the jewelry settingusing an E6000 adhesive. FIG. 2B illustrates the portion of the brasshead of the cartridge secured within one type of jewelry setting.Various types of jewelry may include, but are not limited to, cuffs,bracelets, necklaces, earrings, money clips, or the like.

It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the cartridges may be cutand prepared for jewelry pieces using the steps described above, but maynot require the primer remain in the center of the portion of the brasshead of the cartridge, thus no required use of the high speed drill.Accordingly, the portion of the brass head of the cartridge may be usedin jewelry without the primer and be replaced with an adornment in thecenter where the primer once was housed, such as a jewel, bead or anyother decorative item. Optionally, the portion of the brass head of thecartridge primer may be mounted on a setting with the primer intact. Thesteps in the process of the present invention are provided in FIG. 3.

The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principlesof the invention and its practical application to persons who areskilled in the art. As various modifications could be made to theexemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to thecorresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with thefollowing claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing an article of jewelrycomprising: securing a spent shotgun shell cartridge in a chuck of alathe, wherein said cartridge is comprised of a head section and anelongated tube section, wherein said head section comprises a circularmetal base, a cylindrical metal casing extending from a periphery ofsaid metal base, a central primer extending from a center of said metalbase within said cylindrical casing to a distal end, and a plasticfiller between said cylindrical metal casing and said central primer;cutting said head section with a bit as said secured cartridge is turnedin said chuck of said lathe at a first speed, wherein said cut in saidhead section extends through said cylindrical metal casing and saidplastic filler to said primer, and wherein said distal end of saidprimer is not cut by said bit; cutting said distal end of said primerfrom said head section with a cutting wheel on a high speed drill,wherein said cutting wheel is rotated by said high speed drill at asecond speed greater than said first speed of said lathe; filing saidcut head section and said cut primer to an even flat surface; providinga jewelry setting having a flat base; and mounting said even flatsurface of said cut head section to said flat base of said jewelrysetting.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second speed is at leasttwice said first speed.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said firstspeed is less than approximately 2500 revolutions per minute and whereinsaid second speed is greater than approximately 5000 revolutions perminute.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said filing step is performedby placing said cut head section and said cut primer against aperipheral surface of a grinding wheel.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein said mounting step is comprised of adhering said even flatsurface to said flat base with an epoxy between said even flat surfaceand said flat base.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said jewelrysetting further comprises a ridge around a periphery of said flat base,wherein said cylindrical metal casing fits within said periphery with aclose tolerance space, and wherein at least some of said epoxy fillssaid close tolerance space and adheres said cylindrical metal casing tosaid ridge.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps ofcleaning said head section and polishing said head section, wherein saidcleaning and polishing steps are performed before said mounting step. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein said cleaning and polishing steps arefurther comprised of the steps of placing a plurality of cut shotgunshell casings in a lapidary tumbler with an abrasive material and aliquid wax.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said cleaning andpolishing steps are further comprised of the steps of rubbing said evenflat surface and said cylindrical metal casing with steel wool andwiping wax on said circular metal base, said cylindrical metal casing,and said even flat surface with a cloth.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of replacing said primer with a decorativeadornment before said mounting step.
 11. A method of manufacturing anarticle of jewelry comprising: providing a spent shotgun shell, whereinsaid cartridge is comprised of a head section and an elongated tubesection; making a first cut in said head section with a tool operatingat a first rotational speed; filing said cut head section to an evenflat surface; cleaning said head section; polishing said head section;providing a jewelry setting having a flat base; and mounting said evenflat surface of said cut head section to said flat base of said jewelrysetting.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step ofmaking a second cut in said head section with a tool operating at asecond rotational speed, wherein said second cut is deeper in said headsection than said first cut and wherein said second rotational speed isat least twice said first rotational speed.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising the steps of: securing said head section of saidshell cartridge in a chuck of a lathe, wherein said head section iscomprised of a circular metal base, a cylindrical metal casing extendingfrom a periphery of said metal base, a central primer extending from acenter of said metal base within said cylindrical casing to a distalend, and a plastic filler between said cylindrical metal casing and saidcentral primer, wherein said lathe is said tool operating at said firstrotational speed, and wherein said first cut in said head sectionextends through said cylindrical metal casing and said plastic filler tosaid primer, and wherein said distal end of said primer is not cut bysaid first cut; and removing said head section from said chuck beforemaking said second cut, wherein said second cut extends through saiddistal end of said primer and is made by a cutting wheel on a high speeddrill.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said first speed is less thanapproximately 2500 revolutions per minute and wherein said second speedis greater than approximately 5000 revolutions per minute.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising the step of replacing said primerwith a decorative adornment before said mounting step.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein said cleaning and polishing steps are furthercomprised of the steps of placing a plurality of cut shotgun shellcasings in a lapidary tumbler with an abrasive material and a liquidwax.
 17. An article of jewelry piece, comprising: a jewelry settinghaving a substantially flat base; a cut portion of a spent shotgun shellcartridge, wherein said cartridge is comprised of a head section and anelongated tube section, wherein said head section comprises a circularmetal base, a cylindrical metal casing extending from a periphery ofsaid metal base, a central primer extending from a center of said metalbase within said cylindrical casing to a distal end, and a plasticfiller between said cylindrical metal casing and said central primer,wherein said cut portion of said shotgun shell is comprised of a profilesection extending from said metal base to a substantially parallel cutsurface extending entirely through said cylindrical metal casing, saidplastic filler material and said distal end of said primer; a layer ofepoxy between said cut surface of said cut portion and said flat base ofsaid jewelry setting. a the portion of the brass head of the cartridgesecured to the mounting surface of the setting, wherein a back side ofthe portion of the brass head of the cartridge has been filed to asmooth surface that rests flush on the mounting of the setting.
 18. Theinvention of claim 17, wherein said cut surface is further comprised ofa first cut through said cylindrical metal casing and said plasticfiller material and a second cut through said distal end of said primer.19. The invention of claim 18, wherein said jewelry setting furthercomprises a ridge around a periphery of said flat base, wherein saidcylindrical metal casing fits within said periphery with a closetolerance space, and wherein at least some of said epoxy fills saidclose tolerance space and adheres said cylindrical metal casing to saidridge.
 20. The invention of claim 17, further comprising a decorativeadornment, wherein said primer is removed from said center of said metalbase and said decorative adornment is mounted in center of said metalbase.